The Press., 1887-12-01
AFTER THE BALL.

ssI was tired and bored last night, Lau- ra I'm getting over my liking for society, and, first thing you know, I'l turn female missionary and leave the boredom of our highly cultivated civilization. !"
 "You find filtration pail on you then, Nellie? Take my word, you would be trying your arts on the first tawny chief you would meet in your island of savages. You want few more scalps to dangle at your belt. you little female Nero. Pray, what was wrong last night?"
 The young girls were cousins, and the frosty light of winter day shot in through. the plate-glass windows and fell softly up- on them as they sat in Laura More's bou- doir
 Nellie Lee was fair, pretty, sparkling girl of 20; her life had known nothing but luxury and fulfilled desire; she had been given freely of the roses of life, and no harsh wind had been allowed to touch her white, girlsh brow her home was in a distant city, but she was spending the winter with her cousin and i'll the two months which had passed since her com ing she hall seemed tn find her d~light ill making meu's hearts soften under her sun ny smile; and, keeping her girlish ctre- lessness, she had often been told, with bit terness in the accusing voice, that she WAS l laid at her feet as amusing playthings.
 Laura More was not at all like her yonng relative, Her eyes were dark and naughty, with touch of sadness in them, as if from past sorrow; her brow was thoughtful i; her red lips, proud and sweet, often took a slight, sad ,droop,' as though her life had known time when they had quivered with some mighty pain. No firt, men called her, no heartless, butterfly trifer, but noble woman, whose every lover could swear himself her friend.
 Nellie's bright face was shadowed by a very pretty frown as she tapped her slip pered foot on the fender while replying to her cousin.
 1T mean it." she said, grossly. 'T'm tired of society-the society of men! l pals upon me, I'm tired of having to smile when want to yawn, of simply giving a reproachful glance when l want to box some idiots ears It is all bore, Laura. Dead Set fruit, my cousin. I am weary of insane speeches and stupid compliments and tender hand clasps"
 "A sad condition for the belle of last night to.gown to: this morning, Nellie, , Laura replied, with slow smile. ''I am fully convinced that something has hap- pened at which you are put out Did Egg bert Lorne tiirt with some other pretty girl, and do you object to being treated as you treat others?"
 Nellie gave her fair head an impatient } toss.
 "Eobert Lorne may fling his perfec- tions in the East River, and I would not care," she said.
 "Did Elmer Gray fail to lay his homage at so fair shrine, cousin?'
 "EImer Gray made a perfect fool of himself as usual, 7" was the ungracious re- ''Was it Vane Brandon who fell short : then? Did he not ask rosebud from your boquet, which he could weep over in your absence, dear? It was too bad oi him."
 ''Really, Laura, one would think you had been listening" Nellie said, with 8 mocking little ripple of laughter. You use his own words, and gave him love ly bud. I wish now that hadn't, but was angry at that time, you see.''
 You showed your temper in an unusual way" Laura laughed. "Is your anger always so good-natured :"
 But Nellie's pout was a decided thing now, and her slim foot was beating tattoo on the fender which would not have dis graced South Sea Islander.
 "I wasn't angry at Vane Brandon" she seid, trailing an amount of scorn over the name. 'I.coul,lnt become angry at him -he's too stupid. It was at-well, l might as we'll tell you, at Jack"
 "Has Jack been rude, Nellie?" Laura questioned, in perfectly indifferent voice, although her cousins pretty face was slow Iy crimsoning.
 "Jack' was Laura's half brother, not al all related to Nellie, and very much i'll love with her; consequently, Nellie had some times made this world paradise, some times a-the other place for-Jack. While Laura, seeing it all, would alternately smile and sigh, hardly knowing what to foresee.
 "Rude !" Nellie echoed, indignantly. ssI should think so. Why he never SC much as saw me the whole night. And had promised h1m dance, and he never came to claim it He was so fascinated by that red-haired Miss Foster that he made quite fool of himself But I don't care-much !'
 Miss Foster is a very lovely girl, and her hair is rich auburn" Laura said, with a qniet smile. "I do not see why Jack should not be civil to her-in fact, be devoted to her. Jack has always admired Nina Foster"
 "Well, let him admire her" Nellie said fretfully, "but I'm sure of just one thing, Cousin Laura-if Jack ever asks me tt dance with him again I shall not forget , his rudeness of last night" Then, after g short silence: ''I think of going home in : few days, Laura" Laura's dark eyes opened surprisedly.
 "I do," exclaimed Nellie, her pretty eyes filling with tears. II don't want tc stay any longer. I'm tired of the non sense of my so-called admirers. I think Jack ought to be ashamed of himself and shall go home on Saturday."
 "Dear," Laura said, bending forward tc lay her white hand on the pretty one i1 Nellie's lap. ''I think quite understand r you; you are angry at Jack, and he may deserve it, but you should not make us all suffer for his misioings. Nellie, do you act toward him as a woman should act to- wards the man she loves? ?"
 "I don't love him." Nellie cried, angrily, and then she put up both jeweled hands hands and began to sob. ''I don't-not the least bit Ill. the world, she cried, with much unnecessary force, but Laura drew her chair nearer her cousin, took the fail head to her bosom, and smoothed 1t mo- ment silently. When she spoke her sweet voice was very low and a trife sad.